“But knowing her full name doesn’t help any more than knowing her nickname. For no one Konrad asks knows any more about a Rapunzel than they know about a Zel. Rapunzel, Rapunzel, where have you gone?” (p. 83)
Napoli, Donna Jo. Zel. New York: Puffin. 1996.
Genre: Fairytale
Review:
Every six months Zel and Mother went into town. Zel loved seeing all the people and things because the rest of the time she lived alone with Mother on their alm. This time when they are in town Zel meets a boy named Konrad and finds herself unable to stop thinking about him. This worries Mother as it has always been Mother and Zel. She does not want the boy around Zel and tells Zel they need to leave their alm. Then Mother discovers an isolated tower…
Donna Jo Napoli is well-known for her fairytale stories and this one is a retelling of the story of Rupunzel. The characters are interesting and readers will enjoy the romance between Konrad and Zel. While the basic plot will be well-known to most readers, the author has added her own touch to the tale making it an enjoyable read.